Brandon McInerney |
VENTURA -- A 15-year-old boy charged with the murder of a gay student in an Oxnard classroom has pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Brandon McInerney pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges Thursday in the February 2008 shooting of Larry King, who dressed in a feminine manner and told friends he was gay.
In July, a judge found sufficient evidence for McInerney to stand trial in the case.
Before issuing his ruling in Ventura County Superior Court, Judge Ken Riley outlined some key pieces of evidence and testimony in the case including that McInerney made death threats against King, and waited in the school's computer lab before shooting king in the back of the head.
Judge Riley also said that McInerney didn't confront King in the hallway or on the playground, but waited for class to begin before shooting him twice. Judge Riley called it "the cold blooded precision of an executioner" and a premeditated hate crime.
McInerney, who is being tried as an adult, faces as much as 53 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.
Prosecutors have offered to agree to a sentence of 25 years to life if he pleads guilty to first-degree murder and the hate crime allegation, "which is a very fair offer given the circumstances of this case," Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox said later in an interview. "It will give Mr. McInerney an opportunity to have a life when he gets out of prison."
Trial is set for Dec. 1.
On the Net:
www.rememberlarry.com
Brandon McInerney pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges Thursday in the February 2008 shooting of Larry King, who dressed in a feminine manner and told friends he was gay.
In July, a judge found sufficient evidence for McInerney to stand trial in the case.
Before issuing his ruling in Ventura County Superior Court, Judge Ken Riley outlined some key pieces of evidence and testimony in the case including that McInerney made death threats against King, and waited in the school's computer lab before shooting king in the back of the head.
Judge Riley also said that McInerney didn't confront King in the hallway or on the playground, but waited for class to begin before shooting him twice. Judge Riley called it "the cold blooded precision of an executioner" and a premeditated hate crime.
McInerney, who is being tried as an adult, faces as much as 53 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.
Prosecutors have offered to agree to a sentence of 25 years to life if he pleads guilty to first-degree murder and the hate crime allegation, "which is a very fair offer given the circumstances of this case," Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox said later in an interview. "It will give Mr. McInerney an opportunity to have a life when he gets out of prison."
Trial is set for Dec. 1.
On the Net:
www.rememberlarry.com
